Why Present on this Topic?

1. Computadoras al Alcance de Todos:Successful Computer Literacy Programs for Spanish Speakers at Three California LibrariesREFORMA National Conference III – El Paso, Texas September 18, 2008Presented by Bibliotecas Para La Gente (BPLG) The Northern California chapter of REFORMA

2. Why Present on this Topic? Because a large percentage of the Spanish speaking population in the U.S remains disconnected from the Internet. “Latinos comprise 14% of the U.S. adult population and about half of this growing group (56%) goes online. By comparison, 71% of non-Hispanic whites and 60% of non-Hispanic blacks use the internet.” A lack of computer skills among Latinos is one of the major factors producing this statistic. Source: Latinos Online. 2007. Pew Internet Project. http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/204/report_display.asp Libraries and Librarians can help bridge this “Latino” digital divide! ¡Si Podemos!

3. Goals of this presentation: • That you feel motivated to create a computer literacy program in Spanish at your library if you don’t have one already. • That you learn new tools and practices toimprove and expand your library’s existing computer literacy program in Spanish.

4. Starting a Computer Literacy Program in Spanish at your library. First of all, consider the following: Are there any community organizations outside the library already offering computer classes in Spanish? Are they free? How large is the demand for computer classes in Spanish in your community? What type of computer classes are needed? Group? One-on-one?

5. Getting Support for the Program: Become an Advocate for Computer Classes in Spanish at your Library: • Talk to your patrons and ask them to fill out library suggestions or feedback forms asking for Computer classes in Spanish. • Get support from your library colleagues. Justify the Program to your Library Supervisors and Administrators: • Cite recent research: Pew Internet’s Latinos Online& ALA’s Serving Non-English Speakers in Public Libraries Your Main Argument? No computer skills means no access to the library catalog or databases.

6. Steps for Implementing the Program: • Secure Computer Space: must be a place where other computer users are not disturbed. • Recruit bilingual tutors: it is best to begin with library staff. Later on, you can recruit volunteers to teach. • Set an accessible schedule: survey interested patrons about best times. • Write a teaching plan or curriculum • Become familiar with available teaching tools: Books (of course!), Mouse tutorials in Spanish online, Webjunction.org, etc. • Prepare Forms: Student Profile, Sign up Sheet, Computer Vocabulary. • Market the Program: Take publicity flyers to schools with large Latino student populations and community organizations that serve Latinos and immigrants.

7. How to be an effective and sensitive computer tutor of Spanish speakers. What to do first Fit the lesson to the student’s needs: is it Internet or Word processing that they want to learn? Find out how much knowledge the student knows already and build on that. Provide student questionnaire. Start with a basic Spanish-English computer vocabulary One-on-one vs. group computer tutoring Their Need will be their motivation to learn!

8. Dissipating the Fear • Be welcoming and introduce yourself • Encourage them to feel and touch the computer and its parts • Tell them that they do not need to know English to operate a computer • Let them know that it’s OK to make mistakes

9. Make Learning Divertido! • Use mouse tutorials and typing tutorials available online • Tell stories about how much fun you had looking for information – find pictures of their hometowns. • Show them websites in Spanish, newspapers in Spanish online, and Latino entertainment news.

10. III. Teaching “Springboard Skills” What are the Obstacles to Learning? • Technological apprehension • Extenuating circumstances

11. E-mail • Computer literacy • Staying connected • Branching out

12. Types of Programs • What? • When? • Where?

13. Latinos and the Internet: The information they seek and the tools they need to find it It’s about survival! Economic, educational, legal, medical, etc! Break them in with search sites like Google that have Spanish interfaces. Email is a necessity for submitting resumes. Yahoo.com or google.com are great for beginners.

14. Latinos and the Internet • State employment websites have Spanish interfaces in many cases: www.edd.ca.gov – California’s site • Sites like www.craigslist.org are great for posting offers of service. As well, students can look for community agencies that help with employment and survival issues. • Do your research to find the local community support social agencies websites. Point them out to your students.

15. Latinos and the Internet • Maps and images are fun. They give a sense of the extent of the cyberworld: www.maps.google.com www.images.google.com • Teach students how to set search engine preference to Spanish & English languages.

16. Latinos and the Internet • Tell parents they need to learn as their children will definitively be on the Internet. • http://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ is a great general health website. Try their tutorials in Spanish! (Tutoriales Interactivos de Salud) • Emphasize their right to health, services, and information. Teach the internet as an empowerment tool!

17. Questions, Answers and Sharing